Portable or adjustable trestle



Nov. 21, 1933. H. c. WERTZ PORTABLE OR ADJUSTABLE T RESTLE' Filed Dec. 29, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ldjooL'Ql INVENTOR. HERVE)- B- WERTZ ATTORNEY.

Nov. 21, 1933. H. c. WERTZ PORTABLE OR ADJUSTABLE TRESTLE Filed Dec. 29, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR HER VEY C WERTZ ATTO RN EY Patented Nov. 21, 1933 i 'UNITED STATES PORT-ABLE oa- ADJUSTABLE TRESTLE Harvey C. Wertz, Beaver Falls, Pa.

Application December 29, 1931 Serial No. 583,737

V 3 Claims.

My invention relates generally to adjustable scaffolds or portable trestles adaptable for use by carpenters, house painters, interior decorators, brick layers, plasterers, and others whose work requires ready adjustability of the sustaining element, and easy transportation. The 111- adjustment, and capable of sustaining great weight. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side itelevation and Fig. 2 a front elevation of the trestle according to my invention. Fig. 3 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1 with the saddle partly broken away. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the trestle similar to Fig. 2 adjusted to its a greatest height, Fig. 5 a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 a side elevation of the trestle adjusted to its lowest height. Fig. 7 is a section on line '77 of Figure 5 through the saddle member showing the pivotally mounted Lyoke or clamp in its inoperative position. Figs. 8 and 9 are front and side elevations of a slightly modified form of a trestle embodying my invention, and Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the adjustable main standard of 35. such modified form of trestle. Figs. 11 and 12 are front and side elevations of still another modified form of a trestle adjusted to its lowest height.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the letter T denotes an all metal trestle frame, having leg members 2 which are made of angle iron and pivotally connected at their upper ends to a bracket 3, by means of belts or other suitable fasteners 4. Foot members 5, riveted to thelower ends of the legs are, where desirable, provided with auxiliary foot portions 6, detachably secured thereto by bolts '1, which auxiliary members have fiber buttons or like cushioning elements 8 secured to their lower edges. A pair of toggle links or rods 9 are pivotally connected at their outer ends to the legs 2 and at their inner ends to a short plate or bracket 10, which supports the main standard 11. This standard projects upwardly through a rectangular opening 12 in a horizontal flange proper openings. 7 be removed to permit of independent adjustment 13 of the bracket 3. This flange 13 has a depending portion 14, formed with a small opening 15, registering with a corresponding opening 16 in the body of the bracket. 7 A cotter pin 17 adapted to be received in these openings and in one of a series of openings 28 in the standard 11 locks the legs 2 and the standard in any desired adjusted position. The standard can be automatically adjusted by removing the cotter pin 17 and then forcing the legs 2 toward or away from each other according to whether itis desired to elevate or lower the standard.

A slidably extensible support member 18 is formed with a vertical portion 19 adapted for longitudinal sliding engagementv with the channel iron standard 11, a horizontal portion 20 to which is riveted a U-shaped saddle 21, and a brace member 22 extending downwardly and inwardly from the outer end of the portion 20 toward the standard. The lower end of the brace 22 and vertical 76 portion 19 of the support member 18 are provided with registering openings 23 and 24 respectively, to receive a nut and bolt, or similar readily removable fastener 25, when these openings register with one of the openings 28 in the standard. A second nut and bolt 26 looks the extensible support member to the top of standard 11 when the bolt is inserted through one of a series of openings 27 in the vertical portion 19 and thence through one of the upper openings 28 in the standard. Thus, the extensible support member 18 can be rigidly clamped to the standard for simultaneous up or down movement therewith, and independent adjustment of the former can be effected merely by removing the bolts 25 and 26 and re-inserting them after adjustment in the Of course cotter pin 1'7 must of the support member, except where the range of adjustment of the device as a whole is such that it is not necessary to move the lower ends of vertical portion 19 and brace portion or member 22 below the bracket 3.

The saddle 21 is designed to receive a stringer 27, such as a two by four, which for carpenters its use would be the top of the horse, or it may be used for supporting thereon a platform or the like, not shown, bolt openings 29 being provided tensible support member 18. Wing nuts 35 employed to clamp the yoke adjustably to the stringer also permit the yoke to be swung to one side of the saddle without becoming disengaged from the pivot member 33. The yoke can be quickly adjusted to stringers of different sizes and its flexibility insures a tight gripping of the stringer under pulling stresses. It also can readily be swung to an inoperative position if it is desired to hold the stringer in by nails or the like or allow it to rest loosely in the saddle.

In the modified form of trestle shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the brace member 37 is rigidly attached to main standard 11, extending upwardly through a rectangular opening in a horizontal flange 13 of the bracket 3. Brace member 37 supports a fiat top piece 38, riveted to its horizontal portion 39 which top piece includes perforations 40 for bolting or connecting different sized stringers to the top of the horse or trestle, where advisable. A bracket 41 having perforations 42 is also attached to said brace member and forms a support for a shelf 43, parallel to and below the stringers of a scaffold mounted on adjoining horses.

The trestle illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, closely resembles the trestle of Figs 8 through 10, but shows an angularsaddlemember 44, riveted to brace member 37 and provided with perforations 45, for bolting stringers of different size and form thereto.

What I claim, is:

1. In a device of the kind described, a frame comprising leg members-and a standard carried thereby, a support member having a vertic'al portion, said support memberalso having a horizontal portion and a depending brace portion,

means for connecting said vertical portion and said brace portion to the standard, a saddle fixed to the horizontal portion for supporting a stringer or beam, and a yoke member associated with said horizontal portion for clamping the beam in the saddle.

2. In a device of the kind described, a frame comprising leg members and a standard carried thereby, a support member having a vertical portion, said support member also having a horizontalportion and a depending brace portion, means for connecting said vertical portion and said brace portion to the standard, a saddle fixed to the horizontal portion for supporting a stringer or beam, a shaft pivotally mounted on said support member and having eyes at each end, and a yoke member for clamping the beam in the saddle, said yoke having leg portions adjustably secured to said eyes.

3. In a device of the kind described, a frame comprising a bracket and leg members pivotally secured thereto, a vertically extensible standard slidably connected with said bracket, a pair of toggle links pivotally interconnected with said standard and said leg members to shift said standard vertically with respect to said bracket by the movements of said leg portions toward and away from each other, a support member independently adjustable with respect to said standard, said support member having a vertical portion, an'offset horizontal portion for supporting a beam thereon and a depending inclined brace portion, and means for connecting said brace portion and said vertical portion to said standard in any desired adjusted position.

HARVEY C. WERTZ. 

